ZONE CLEANING - WEEK 1/ DAY 1

Thanks for joining me - I promise that making this small investment of time and energy this month will go a long way this month and year in how you feel about your home.  It's all about small steps, little goals met and a big end result. 

Let's get started, shall we?  (If you haven't read about this challenge, read here and here first.)  I'm going to be doing this right along with you - I might be cleaning a day ahead to be able to have "inspirational" before and after pictures, but I'm cleaning/purging/organizing right along with you.  This Zone Cleaning Event - Playoff Football Style is inspired by football, because,  a.)  I like football, b.) it's playoff football time, and c.) the phrases used for football games work well for me with this game.  Full Disclosure:  I am a Minnesota Vikings fan - there may be a few references to this team during this game - I apologize in advance if you are not a Vikings fan.  

ZONE 1/Week 1:  Bill Paying/Receiving Area and Paper Clutter (in the kitchen)

This is an area of my life that I have always struggled with.  I'm never too excited to sit down and pay bills - it's depressing.  One of my three resolutions is to get on top of this area of my life.  I pay the bills, file the paperwork and I have mostly been operating on an out of sight, out of mind policy.  Papers are filed well, I just don't have a daily system other than a paper pile that I sift through a couple of times a month.  So this week I'm going to TACKLE this OPPONENT in my life.

Here's a picture of my Bill Paying/Receiving Area in our Kitchen:

I will be working in this area all week. 

I am going to break it into four sections (QUARTERS) and work on one quarter Monday-Thursday of this week for a 15 MINUTE PERIOD each day.  I will be setting a timer for 15 minutes, eliminate all distractions (no tv, kids in bed or napping, no computer....) and get to work.  Before I start my timer I'm going to gather a few supplies that I know I'll need so I'm not stopping to get anything (toss bag, relocate bag, rags and Basic H2).

This is my FIRST QUARTER (Monday) cupboard -BEFORE:

Step 1: Set timer for 15 minutes

Step 2: Empty cupboard

Step 3: Quickly sort into three stacks (toss, relocate, and put back into cupboard)
Step 4: Spray down cupboard with Basic H2 (all-purpose formulation) and wipe clean with a rag
Step 5: Arrange the papers to be put back in cupboard

Step 6: Put supplies in new caddy (I purchased this at Target to simplify my bill paying stack) and 13 pocket file folder (also from Target).  There were only a few papers to put in the folder because it's for 2010 bill stubs.

Step7: Organize the space.....
Time's Up!  Throw away toss bag and put your "relocate" items away.

After:

Pretty good, huh?  During the course of this week, the top shelf will have a few friends, but I really like that I can take my little caddy out on a daily basis and file paperwork and do bills.  I have a stack of bills that are ready to be mailed and a stack that I have not gotten to yet.  I also have a letter opener (very handy), a return address stamp, pens & pencils, a bill notebook, some budgeting paperwork, a checkbook, calculator, and I'll add some stamps (I'm currently out).

Hopefully today will be a success for you - we'll see you here tomorrow for the second quarter!  I'd love for you to comment and link up about how today went for you.